Visitors&#39; speaking device for jails



April 12, 1938. G. E. OLIVER y 2,113,800

` VISITORS SPEAKING DEVICE FOR JAILS v Filed Sept. 28, 1937 2Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY April 12, 1938. G. E. OLIVER 2,113,800

VISITORS SPEAKING DEVICE FOR JfxILS l Filed Sept. 28, 1937 2Sheets-Sheet-Z INV ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 12, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 14 Claims.

This invention relates to a visitors speaking device for jails and thelike and has for an object to provide a tamper and bullet proof devicewhich is arranged to prevent passage of materials bee tween the prisonerand the visitor.

Another object is to provide an eicient, convenient and dependabledevice of the above type.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature ofthe invention is more fully disclosed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic ofthis invention will be more particularly pointed out in the claimsappended hereto, the invention itself may be better understood byreferring to the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing forming a part thereof, in which a particular`embodiment of the invention has been shown for purposes of illustration.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a speaking device embodying thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation showing the mouth of the speaking device; and

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

In the following description and in the claims certain specific termsare used for convenience in designating various details of theinvention.

It is to be understood, however, that these terms are to be given asbroad an interpretation as the state of the art will permit.

Referring to the drawing more in detail, the invention is shown ascomprising a pair of speaking channels I and II, located on oppositesides of a partition I2 which separates the prisoners space from thevisitors space. The partition I2 is provided with a window I3 of bulletproof glass or the like through which the prisoner and visitor may beseen.

In the embodiment shown a horizontal shelf I4 extends outwardly on bothsides of the partition I2 below the window I3. This shelf supportsflared housings I 5 which are mounted on opposite sides of the partitionI2 and form the speaking channels Il] and II. The inner ends of thehousings I5 are located in alignment with an opening I1 below the windowI3 in the partition I2. At the larger or outer end, each housing I5 isprovided with a circular flange 22 which is attached to a frame I8supported by the shelf I4 and attached thereto by suitable means, suchas screws I9 and clamping bars 20. The frame is also attached to thepartition I2 at a point above the housing I5 by means of rivets 2I andforms a complete cover which prevents access to any part of the speakingdevice. It will be noted that the rivets 2E are concealed by the frameI8 and that the screws IS are concealed by the shelf I4. The ends of theshelf I4 may be closed by depending members Ilia so that there is nopossibility of either the prisoner or the visitor removing the device inthe short time available. The housing may, of course, be mounted inother ways, such as by brackets extending from the partition I2, inwhich case the shelf E4 may be omitted, or the closure for the devicemay not be complete provided supervision is exercised to preventtampering. In the form shown the housings are supported by the frame i8and may be removed by dismantling the same. They may, if desired, bealso attached to the partition I2 at their inner ends in which case theouter support may be omitted.

The outer end of the housing I5 is covered by a screen 30 of suitablematerial, preferably bullet resistant, such as wire mesh which is ofsufficiently close weave to prevent passage of any solid material. Theopening il is covered on each side by a screen which comprises aperforated steel 2 plate 32 covered by a wire screen 3I of ne mesh. Thisscreen 3| may be compacted by rolling or pressing so as to strengthenthe wires at their intersections and also to reduce the size of theopenings therein. In the form shown a pair of such screen assemblies aremounted on opposite sides ci the partition I2 with the wire screens 3ltoward the partition and held by rivets 93, one assembly beingassociated with each of the housings I5. It is to be understood that theconstruction of the two housings I5 is identical, one of the devicesextending into the visitors space and the other device extending intothe prisoners space. The screens 30 are inclined so as to receive soundwaves from a point somewhat above the speaking device and correspondingto the normal positions of the prisoner and visitor.

The screens 30 and Si are so disposed that it is practically impossibleto thread even the finest wire through the device. The apertures in thetwo plates 32 may be out of alignment so that direct passage through thetwo plates is prevented. In some instances the screens 3| may be omittedand a bullet prooi perforated plate or plates substituted therefor onboth sides of the partition or a single plate or screen assembly may bemounted within the opening I'I. The screens 30, of course, need not beinclined as shown although this arrangement provides a maximumaudibility and at the same time avoids a straight path through thedevice. The screens 3| or plates 32 may also be made of bullet resistantmaterial if desired.

In the form shown, the lower side of the outer portion |5a of thehousing l5 is substantially horizontal and the inner portion 15b issomewhat inclined toward the partition I2. In order to prevent passageof fluids through the device an aperture 35 is provided in the plate 32communicating with the opening l1 and extending to the visitors side ofthe device so as to discharge any uid on to the shelf I4 in the visitorsspace. An aperture 35 may be provided in this shelf adjacent theaperture 35 so as to discharge such fluid on to the floor if desired.

It will be noted that the above construction permits free passage forsound waves between the prisoner and visitor, but prevents passage ofany liquid or solid materials therebetween. If it is attempted to passliquids they are irrimediately discharged on the visitors side and donot reach the prisoner. An electric alarm system may also be used towarn of any attempt to pass objects through the device. It is to beunderstood that the form thereof may be changed in various particularsand that a particular embodiment has been shown for purposes ofillustration only. Various changes and modifications may be made thereinas will be apparent to a person skilled in the art. The invention isonly to be limited in accordance with the following claims wheninterpreted in view of the prior art.

What is claimed is:

1. A visitors speaking device for jails or the like, comprising apartition dividing the prisoners space from the visitors space, saidpartition having a speaking aperture formed therein and a pair ofhousings mounted on opposite sides of said aperture to form speakingchannels, said devices having their free ends covered by metal screensand having additional screens at their inner ends on opposite sides ofsaid speaking aperture.

2. A visitors speaking device for jails or the like, comprising apartition dividing the prisoners space from the visitors space, saidpartition having a speaking aperture formed therein, a screen coveringsaid speaking aperture, housings extending from opposite sides of saidscreen into the visitors space and prisoners space, respectively. toform speaking channels.

3. A visitors speaking device for jails or the like, comprising apartition dividing the prisoners space from the visitors space, saidpartition having a speaking aperture formed therein, a screen coveringsaid speaking aperture, housings extending from opposite sides of saidscreen into the visitors space and prisoners space, respectively, toform speaking channels and a bullet resistant metal screen covering thefree end of each housing.

4. A visitors speaking device for jails or the like, comprising apartition dividing the prisoners space from the visitors space, saidpartition having a speaking aperture formed therein, a screen coveringsaid speaking aperture, a ilared housing extending in an upwardlyinclined direction from each side of said screen into the visitors spaceand prisoners space respectively to form speaking channels, `and aninclined bullet resistant screen covering the free end of each housing.

5. A visitors speaking device for jails` or the like, comprising apartition dividing the prison-- ers space from the visitors space, saidpartition having a speaking aperture formed therein, a screen assemblysecured to each side of said partition and covering said speakingaperture, each screen assembly comprising a perforated metal plate and awire screen disposed thereover.

6. A visitors speaking device for jails or the like, comprising apartition dividing the prisoners space from the visitors space, saidpartition having a speaking aperture formed therein, a screen assemblysecured to each side of said partition and covering said speakingaperture, each screen assembly comprising a perforated metal plate and awire screen disposed thereover, a flared housing extending outwardlyfrom each of said screen assemblies and a bullet resistant metal screencovering the free end of each of said housings.

7. A visitors speaking device for jails or the like, comprising apartition dividing the prisoners. space from the visitors space, saidpartition having a speaking aperture formed therein, a screen assemblysecured to each side of said partition and covering said speakingaperture, each screen assembly comprising a perforated metal plate and awire screen disposed thereover, said wire screen being compacted tostrengthen the saine and to reduce the size of the apertures therein S.A visitors speaking device for jails or the like, comprising a partitiondividing the prisoners space from the visitors space, said partitionhaving a speaking aperture formed therein, a screen assembly secured toeach side of said partition and covering said speaking aperture, eachscreen assembly comprising a perforated metal plate and a wire screendisposed thereover, a flared housing extending outwardly from each ofsaid screen assemblies and a bullet resistant metal screen covering thefree end of each of said housings and means to prevent passage of liquidthrough said housing comprising an aperture in said partitioncommunicating with said speaking aperture and adapted to discharge fluidtherefrom outwardly into the visitors space.

9. A visitors speaking device for jails or the like, comprising apartition dividing the prisoners space from the visitors space, saidpartition having a window through which the visitor and prisoner may berespectively seen, a shelf extending on opposite sides of saidpartition, a speaking aperture in said partition above said shelf, ascreen assembly mounted on each side of said partition and covering saidaperture, a flared housing extending outwardly fromv each of said screenassemblies in an upwardly inclined direction and an inclined frameattached to said shelf and to said partition to support the free end ofsaid housing.

l0. A visitors speaking device for jails or the like, comprising apartition dividing the prisoners space from the visitors space, saidpartition-having a window through which the visitor and prisoner may berespectively seen, a shelf extending on opposite sides of saidpartition, a speaking aperture in said partition above said shelf, ascreen assembly mounted on each side of said partition and covering saidaperture, a ared housing extending outwardly from each of said screenassemblies in an upwardly inclined direction and an inclined frameattached to said shelf and to said partition to support the free end ofsaid housing and an aperture in said partition below said housing todischarge iluid onto the shelf on the visitors side of said partition.

11. A visitors speaking device for jails or the like comprising apartition dividing the prisoners space from the visitors space, saidpartition having a speaking aperture formed therein, a screen coveringsaid speaking aperture, a flared housing extending from said screen intoone of said spaces to form a speaking channel and a screen covering thefree end of said housing, said second screen being out of alignment withsaid rst screen so as to prevent direct passage of objects therethrough.

12. A visitors speaking device for jails or the like comprising apartition dividing the prisoners space from the visitors space, saidpartition having a speaking aperture formed therein, a screen coveringsaid speaking aperture, a ared housing extending in an upwardly inclineddirection from said screen into one of said spaces to form a speakingchannel and an inclined screen covering the free end of said housing.

13. `A visitors speaking device for jails or the like comprising apartition dividing the prisoners space from the visitors space, saidpartition having a speaking aperture formed therein, a screen coveringsaid speaking aperture, housings extending from opposite sides of saidscreen into the visitors space and prisoners space repectively to formspeaking channels and screens covering the free ends of said housings,said last screens being out of alignment with said rst screen whereby adirect passage of objects therethrough is prevented.

14. A visitors speaking device for jails or the like comprising apartition dividing the prisoners space from the visitors space, a shelfextending on opposite sides of said partition, a speaking aperture in.said partition above said shelf, a screen covering said speakingaperture, a flared housing extending in an upwardly inclined directionfrom each side of said screen into the visitors space and prisonersspace respectively to form speaking channels and screens covering thefree end of each housing, said last screens being out of alignment withsaid iirst screen whereby direct passage of objects therethrough isprevented.

GEORGE EDWARD OLIVER.

